This week, some of the PGA.com staff -- including yours truly -- are in breathtaking Monterey, Calif., for the 45th PGA Professional National Championship being held over at Bayonet Blackhorse in Seaside.

While we love our jobs dearly, it's basically killing us to be watching and covering golf when there are so many incredible golf courses here in Northern California that we could be playing! (So maybe we snuck over to play a little place called the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay before things got busy, but don't say anything, OK? Also, based on that experience, you may want to add that course to your bucket list).

A QUICK NINE

Our 150,000+ strong Facebook nation shares their expertise and experiences to help augment YOUR golf game in our Seagram's "A Quick Nine" series. Here are some important lists which show why "It's Good to Be You."

So, with Northern California and its abundance of great golf courses in mind -- it may be the most golf-rich area in the country and world -- we decided to reach out to you, our NoCal friends in PGA.com Facebook Nation, to ask: Where would you recommend visitors play?

Below is the list of the top answers we received. If you ask me, there were some great places left off the list and some might not agree with the order. That's fine though. Feel free to debate!

Editor's note: If you have played any of the courses listed below, please click its name and leave a review on its course page.

7. Coyote Moon Golf Course in Truckee, Calif. Description from its website: "Coyote Moon Golf Course is one of the finest mountain golf experiences in the country. The course sits on 250 acres of secluded rolling hills amidst towering pines, enormous granite outcroppings, wildflowers and the beautiful Trout Creek. The vistas plus fresh mountain air equals near perfection. Without a single home to spoil the view, playing Coyote Moon offers an experience seldom found in golf today."

5. Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz. Alister MacKenzie -- the same man who designed Cypress Point and Augusta National -- called Pasatiempo his favorite layout. He also made his American home there, which still sits off the sixth fairway. Need we say more?

Facebook fan quotes:

"Try Pasatiempo, you will be amazed." -- Jerry Greiner

"I think the greens at Pasatiempo are a good test. I'd go with that." -- Rob King

3. Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, Calif. It's 15th, 16th and 17th holes are routinely rated as three of the best in the world. If anyone reading this can get on this course, please invite us and we'll be your friends forever.

Facebook fan quotes:

"Cypress Point, you can't beat it." -- Frank Abel

"Cypress Point Club. Played it about 3 years ago, parred No. 15 and No. 16, the most beautifu par-3s in the world!" -- Dave Esqueda

"I have played Pebble. Not very well I might add, though. Fun and beautiful." -- David Wayne Baugus

"Pebble, all the history." -- Blake Nix

"Pebble's on the bucket list." -- Eric Anderson

Comments

bastiguff3

11/15/2013

Great list, but limited to only 9 golf courses is problematic for Northern California, use the Forelinksters guide to find the better public golf courses along with a map to find the ones closest to your destination: